Alabama Athletics
Alabama Baseball Shuts Out Northeastern, 8-0
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama baseball shut out Northeastern for the second-consecutive game 8-0 on Saturday afternoon in Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
"Good effort today," Alabama coach Brad Bohannon said. "Connor [Shamblin] had a great outing and got us off to a great start.
"Another day where we had production throughout the lineup. A little inefficient offensively. A couple of mistakes on the bases but you know overall for game two I'm really pleased."
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Connor Shamblin picked up the win for Alabama, pitching five innings and allowing no hits. Shamblin struck out five and walked only one.
"It's more of the mental side," Shamblin said about how he approached Saturday's game. "It's knowing that my stuff is good enough to beat them and just trusting it. I mean, I was a little anxious to start the game but I just settled down and just trust Kolby [Robinson], trust Jim [Jarvis]. [They] turned a good double-play for me in the first that helped me get into rhythm and helped me get going throughout the whole game."
In addition to Shamblin, senior right-hander Casey Cobb and junior lefties Garret Rukes and Brock Guffey only allowed one more hit between the three of them, finishing off the Huskies with just four combined hits for the game.
The pitching wasn't the only part of Alabama's game that did well on Saturday. So far in the series, the Crimson Tide has outscored the Huskies 18-0.
Alabama got things started early once again, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Junior right fielder Tyler Gentry registered the first RBI of the game with a single up the middle, driving senior catcher Brett Auerbach in for the run. Freshman third baseman Zane Denton would drive in two more runs with a double down the left field line, sending both Gentry and redshirt-sophomore designated hitter Sam Praytor home.
The Crimson Tide added to its lead in the second, increasing its lead by two runs. Gentry hit another RBI-single, sending senior shortstop Kolby Robinson in for the run.
Later in the second, Praytor hit an infield single, but a throwing error by Huskies junior Ian Fair allowed Crimson Tide sophomore center fielder T.J. Reeves to advance all the way from second across home plate.
Following several quiet innings, Alabama added another two runs to its total. Owen Diodati, who hit two home runs in his debut with the Crimson Tide Friday night, hit a double to right field which sent both sophomore first baseman Drew Williamson and Gentry on a trip across home.
Praytor registered the last RBI for Alabama, knocking in Austin on an RBI-single to left field. The Crimson Tide closed the game out in the ninth, winning 8-0.
"We've thrown back-to-back shutouts without asking out pitchers to throw shutouts," Bohannon said. "We've been a pretty good offensive team, pretty athletic defensively, just slow the other team down. If you can give 'em one [hit] in the second, two in the fourth and one in the seventh then you're going to win a lot of baseball games so I'm really glad we're putting up zeros."
For the Northeastern pitchers, junior Sam Jacobsak is credited with the loss. Jacobsak also pitched five innings, but allowed five runs off seven hits. Jacobsak also only walked one and had five strikeouts.
Alabama is now 2-0 to start the season, while Northeastern falls to 0-2.
The Crimson Tide will conclude its weekend series with the Huskies on Sunday (1 p.m. CT, SEC Network+).
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